Blogging has become a viable marketing tool for professionals who are applying for work or those who are trying to establish a personal brand. Below are some proven techniques for creating a great blog. Follow these five tips to create a professional blog that will impress the interviewers you’re talking to and attract the readers you’re looking for.
1. Determine Your Angle
Before you start writing, decide what the focus of your blog will be (often referred to as your niche). Thinly disguised ad copy won't attract repeat readers or impress employers. Do you have expertise that you can use to inform or inspire your audience? Can you provide interesting commentary about news in your industry? Decide how you will add value that will keep your readers checking back for your next post.2. Establish Your Voice
Once you have an angle, don't forget to add some personality. Avoid generic posts; personalize them with stories from your own professional experience. Letting your readers get to know you is the best way to create reader loyalty. Pitch your voice to match your professional goals. For example, if you're trying to establish yourself as a financial expert then you should limit the amount of humor in your posts. If you're a motivational coach, then make sure your posts are inspirational. If you find it hard to match your personal voice to your blog niche, you might want to reconsider your niche.3. Grab Attention
The first thing that readers notice about a blog post is the title. Readers are far more likely to read a post if they're intrigued by its title. While there are no absolute rules for creating titles that grab attention, there are some general rules that established bloggers recommend: Short, simple titles are usually the most effective, but you need to provide enough information to let the reader know something about the subject of the post. Grabbing attention with a shocking or controversial title can also be effective as long as the post delivers useful information and doesn't attempt to fool the audience into reading.4. Use Social Media
Successful bloggers use social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn to engage with new and repeat readers. Create profiles for your blog on social media websites and share a link each time you publish a post. Promote your blog by consistently using it as your user name on social media platforms. Include standard icons on your blog that provide readers with quick access to your social media profiles.5. Keep It New
Don't let your blogging fall into a rut: repetition should be your enemy. Keep your blog content fresh by staying on top of news in your industry. Use Google Alerts to find new content on specific subjects. Allow your blog to evolve by trying new things and taking risks. Invite guest bloggers to contribute, interview leaders in your industry, add video or a podcast, create an infographic. On days when you don't have an original idea for a post, write about something you've found on another blog or website and include a link for your readers. A final tip about blogging for your business or your personal brand: Don't expect overnight results. In the beginning, you may feel discouraged because your readership is low. Keep writing high-quality posts on a regular basis, use social media to promote your blog and soon you may find that you have what it takes to create a great professional blog. Even if you never build a large readership, you can use your blog to demonstrate your professional abilities to potential customers or employers. This article was written by Social Media Outreach Coordinator, Harrison Kratz, on behalf of CAREEREALISM-Approved Partner, 2tor — an education technology company that partners with institutions of higher education such as University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to deliver their distance learning MBA online.
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